The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-10-12
INDIANA AND ILLINOIS NEWS
Convention of the General Association
of Wabash Detective Companies.
Penalty Assessed at Life Imprisonment
Very Successful Mission Meeting.
INDIANA.

General Convention of the Wabash Horse
Thief Detective Companies.
Special to the Indianapolis Journal.
FRANKLIN. Oct ia convention of horse
thief detective companies is in session here.
About four hundred delegates are present.
The first law recognizing such organiza-
tions passed in 1853 In 1902 the law
greatly improved and it further
amended in 1865 The lawmakers ana the
courts in this State are beginning to properly
appreciate the power and efficiency of these
CARNATIONS in the suppression of crime. Or
ganized bands Of horse-thisves who for years
had been successful stealing horses. have been
broken up and the leaders arrested and convict
ed. Local thievng has been suppressed. Mem
bers OF these companies receive benefit in many
ways. The property of tho detectives is not so
liable to be stolen. Thieves smart enough
to know the chances for detection and arrest
are greatly increased when they steal from
organization that has a fund in the treasury for
defraying the expenses Of pursuit and arrest.
and also that force will at once pursue.
clothed with legal power to arrest. The
chances for recovering the property stolen 10 In
creased where there is organized vigilance.
The old maxim. Tin union there is strength,
is manifest in detective organizations. A bad
man may reside In q community. but the lso-
lated neghbor does not confide his suspicious to
any one, and does not inform the authorities.
lest alone he be called to confront the bad man
in court If the best men in the community
combine and compare suspicious they SEQ the
connecting links and are strengthened, and at
make the This illustration has a
parallel in hundreds of localities today in In
diana. These organizations are not for the dis
reputable purpose of encouraging mob violence,
but a power behind the law seeking its
vindcation.
Mob violence is the offspring Of non enfcrce-
ment of law. The great mob in Cincinnati a
few years ago. entaiing loss of millions OF
dollars, was because criminals went unpublished
until an il-advised indignation of the people
knew no bounds. Indianapolis courts of JUS
tice daily invite those who sap the foundation
of our civil government by changing the
pressed will of the people the ballot box, very
much in the same manner that Cincinnati dealt
with her criminals before the public Indignation
The detective companies demand the enforce
ment of law the end that all shall be pro-
tected in their person and their property. There
exist in Indiana at this time, organized bands
of borse-thieyes manipulated by men of wealth,
Of influence and position. So skillfully do they
ply their work, and SO well fortified are they by
position and numbers that. although in some
instances their headquarters and their leaders
known, i: is realized that their arrest and
conviction will be a 'hurculean task" These can
only be met by the most efficient organization.
SO long the drinking saloon, the gam bling
hell the otbel-house, and kindredIpaces OF vice,
where the frequenters waste time, squander
fortune, loose self respect honor and character,
continue to exist so long will the organized ef-
fort against crime be imperative.